paintplongo

Just did my first tour of the Michigan UP and had a great time. I noticed that my rear light wasn't as visible as I'd like so I'd like to see what options there are that would mount directly to my rear rack. It has the predrilled holes for the Euro style lights but I'm unable to find very many options that would mount directly. Any help would be great, thanks!

Juha

Cheers and welcome to Bike Forums.

You'll find a lot of rear light comparisons in our Electronics, Lighting and Gadgets Forum. Here's one such thread for example:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...kburn-mars-4-0

--J

LeeG

Planet Bike SuperFlash or "Turbo" version. Use rechargeable AAA batteries run all the time and rotate batteries for recharging every two weeks or put in pricey lithium disposables for occasional use and don't bother changing batteries for awhile.

Erick L

Busch & Muller lights would fit your rack. If I remember right, the Radbot lights come with a euro-style mounting bracket, but the light itself is quick-release.

Tourist in MSN

Lots and lots of very good lights out there. You need one with very good focus so that it puts a strong beam where you aim it.

Unfortunately, very few lights are well designed for rack mounting. I wrapped some inner tube rubber in a strip around my rack tubing to act as a shim so that I could use lights with a seatpost type mount.





I prefer two lights, usually one is a spare but if there is poor visability I may use both at the same time. I never however use both in a non-flash mode, as I do not want a car driver that is 100 feet behind me to think that there is a car with two taillights a quarter mile away.

djyak

For my daughter's bike, we already had this light. I cut the clip off of the back. It comes apart, and where the batteries go, I drilled two holes matching her rack, put the bolts through, sealed them with silicone, and mounted it to the rack. Works great, and didn't have to buy a special light. Very bright too, and I used a couple of washers to keep it away from the rack so she could reach her fingers in behind to turn it off after she gets to school.

surfjimc

I picked up some Dinotte lights when I was commuting on a more regular basis. I liked them for their brightness and battery set up. A few drivers actually rolled down their windows and talked to me at stoplights to tell me how much they liked that they could see my rear light. A bit expensive, but they have lasted 4 years with no issues so far. However, they may not be the best choice for touring.

rogerstg

FWIW, Planet Bike sells a bracket for their superflash to do what you wish.

fietsbob

Why not get a Euro light? I have a B&M 4D toplight .. 2AA batteries, last a long time.

in senso mode it (if that version) even turns itself on when you ride thru tunnels,
then off again in the daylight..

whole big lens lights up 2 central + 2 diodes face sideways..

also made is another AA powered light flatter, 1 diode , line reflection lenses spread it out.

campylover

What do you like better, Busch & Muller non- flashing light or Planet Bike's flashing mode?

mr geeker

+1 on the bell light. they're cheap and last a few years before the button wears out. i like to put mine on one of the odd-ball flash modes it has.

fietsbob

You can use the belt clip with the flashing lights an fit one on each pannier,
+ the one on your rack..

just don't use blinkys where they are Verboten.

Tourist in MSN

I have seen a lot of cyclists that put a red light on their backpack or pannier with a belt clip, the lights often aim towards the stars or some other place, but not at the car drivers behind. As a car driver I have not seen the lights until I am quite close to the bikers. I strongly recommend a light mounted to the bike that is carefully aimed so that the drivers behind will see it from a distance, thus my comments above in post number 5 about aiming a strong beam.

Doug64

This is a 4D Top Light on my wife's bike. It is rugged and dependable. I also have one on my bike.



Her light shows up well, even when it is not completely dark. We were also in Michigan! This picture was taken on a tour of Michigan's Lower Peninsula that we finished earlier this month. We planned on going into the UP and then down the Canadian side of Lake Huron, but we changed plans due to the weather. Instead, we made a 900 mile loop around the Lower Peninsula. Did you get wet?

Lewiston, Michigan--returning from dinner. We wimped out and got a motel this night instead of camping.



The Touring Store carries them. Good prices and excellent customer service.
https://www.thetouringstore.com/BUSCH...LER%20HOME.htm

Western Flyer 

There are a number of adapter to mount "regular" rear lights to European drilled racks.
https://ecom1.planetbike.com/3108.html

arctos

For rearward visibility for 30 years I have used a large reflective triangle sewn on the end of a drybag rear rack stuffer with a tab in the center of the triangle for a rear flasher as well. Drivers and other bike riders have commented about how far away it is visible alone and with the flasher as they overtook me on the bike.